What's the interest level in M6+ seismic events based on response rates?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the recent M6 seismic events recorded by a participant's seismograph, specifically an M6.3 event near Putre, Chile, and an M6.7 event in the Bouvet Island region. Participants explore the significance of these events, their implications for future seismic activity, and the general interest level in such occurrences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports two recent M6 seismic events, providing specific details about their locations and P arrival times.
  • Another participant questions the significance of these events and whether they indicate a potential future event.
  • A response suggests that these events are part of ongoing global seismic activity, noting the average occurrence of 2-3 M6-6.9 events per week.
  • The M6.3 event is described as occurring in a seismically active region, while the M6.7 event is noted to be in a less active area, with a comparison to the South Sandwich Islands region.
  • There is a discussion about the uncertainty of whether these events could be foreshocks to larger events, with historical examples provided to illustrate this point.
  • Participants express appreciation for the original poster's contributions and explanations, indicating a level of engagement with the topic.
  • The original poster reflects on the lack of responses to their posts, questioning the size of the interested audience but expressing a commitment to continue sharing information.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the significance of the events or the implications for future seismic activity. Multiple viewpoints are presented, with some suggesting ongoing activity is typical while others express curiosity about potential future events.

Contextual Notes

There is an acknowledgment of the uncertainty surrounding the classification of seismic events as foreshocks or standalone occurrences, emphasizing the retrospective nature of such determinations.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in seismology, earthquake patterns, and the implications of seismic events may find this discussion relevant.

davenn
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another couple of M6 events from my seismograph

M 6.3 - 36km SSW of Putre, Chile

M 6.7 - Bouvet Island region

on my seismogram below,
the P arrival for the M6.3, Chile event is approx 0652UT
the P arrival for the M6.7, Bouvet Is event is approx 1907UT

zhi.gif
cheers
Dave
 
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Is there any significance to these events? Is there some future event expected now that you've seen these two?
 
jedishrfu said:
Is there any significance to these events?

Not particularly, they are just part of ongoing activity world wide. The avg is around 2-3 x M6-6.9 events a week
The M 6.3 in nthrn Chile is in a very seismically active region ( the Nazca and South American plates) that sees regular M 7's and M8's.

The M6.7 from Bouvet Is region ( southern Atlantic), tho on a plate boundary, isn't so much of an active area. Go to the west 2000km and
you get to the South Sandwich Islands region where the activity is quite high.
jedishrfu said:
Is there some future event expected now that you've seen these two?

Ah hah, that's the $6 million question :wink: We never know if it's a foreshock to a much bigger event or just a stand-alone event
There's examples of both in the seismic records

eg ... the Japan 2011 M9 event ... it had 3 significant foreshocks
Mar 9, M7.2 followed by 3 x M6.x events then Mar 11 the M9 shock

i-18a4129bbe17932aeb20701709c8e8d2-Magnitudes-thumb-600x480-62555.png


One could say ( and rightfully so) that the 3 x events were just aftershocks of the M7 main shock.
But what makes them all foreshocks of the M9 event is their close association to the M9 both in location and in time

The big problem is, we never know that they were foreshocks, or not, till after the fact
As they say, "Hindsight has 20/20 vision" :wink:Dave
 
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Thanks Dave. I always like your posts on these events and your excellent explanations.
 
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jedishrfu said:
Thanks Dave. I always like your posts on these events and your excellent explanations.

Thankyou for the encouragement
so few of the posts get responses, so I'm never sure how big an "interested audience" there is on the subject
But I just keep posting anyway. :biggrin:
Greg Bernhardt once told me "You have a unique perspective on the subject" :smile:Dave

EDIT ... will reword the line above ... So few...
 
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